Monday, November 14, 2005

Applauding at windmills

Adlerstein writes that "Nostra Aetate....affirmed that G-d’s covenant with the Jewish people is unbroken and eternal. "

It did no such thing. The text is here, see for yourself. The Catholic Church can and will no more agree that there is another Israel--the Jews--then the Jews can agree that the Church is Israel. It could barely bring itself to recognize a sovereign nation called Israel, and it didn't do that for another 30 years. "Although the Church is the new people of God, the Jews should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God, as if this followed from the Holy Scriptures."

Adlerstein writes "Jews – especially traditional Jews filled with a sense of the permanence of G-d’s Word – wonder how this could be done. How do you change a belief that the faithful assumed century after century? They do not understand that the Church does not see change as impossible. The Catholic Church overflows with tradition; it allows only for very slow change. But it does allow for it. Later generations can and do rethink old issues as society develops."

How is this different from traditional Judaism? "Judaism overflows with tradition; it allows only for very slow change. But it does allow for it. Later generations can and do rethink old issues as society develops."